Xebec begins operations at Chinese landfill gas upgrading project

By Xebec Adsorption Inc. | July 22, 2015

Xebec Adsorption Inc., a provider of gas purification and filtration solutions for the natural gas, field gas, biogas, helium, and hydrogen markets, recently announced that it has commenced operation of its first commercial landfill gas to compressed natural gas (CNG) upgrading system in Anshan, North Eastern China.

This landfill gas upgrading system is based on Xebec's fast cycle pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology, assembled and integrated at Xebec's Shanghai facility according to Chinese code and certification requirements.

The upgrading system is operating within a variable pressure envelope of 90 to 120 psig and dynamic feed flow parameters between 500 and 1300 cubic meters per hour. In addition, Xebec is deploying a kinetic adsorption process to continuously remove varying amounts of nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2), while maintaining corresponding recovery rates of 83 to 91 percent, and product gas purity levels of 94 to 98.6 percent methane (CH4). The high quality product gas will be used to power natural gas taxis that operate in the city of Anshan.

“Xebec's upgrading system performance is excellent, delivering gas quantities and qualities which are higher and purer than we expected. This allows us to sell more high quality gas to our customers, making this investment very attractive for us,” said Luo Yong, chairman of Beijing Golden Green Environmental Engineering & Technology Co. Ltd., the owner of the project.

Xebec's strong Chinese supply chain, with local design and manufacturing capabilities, have focused on maintaining high quality standards while still finding significant cost reduction of the overall upgrading system, complying with all local electrical, mechanical and safety regulations and certification requirements.

“It has been extremely important for Xebec to establish this first reference operation in the landfill gas upgrading space. We can now demonstrate proven and reliable upgrading technology to potential Chinese customers. China is committed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades and needs technologies like Xebec's that can provide tangible reductions in GHG emissions. Upgraded landfill gas used as transportation fuel has the lowest GHG emission profile of any transportation fuel available today, beating out electrical and hydrogen vehicles,” said Peter Cheng, general manager of Xebec Adsorption in Shanghai.

He continued by stating, “China has the potential to convert massive amounts of biogas and landfill gas into low carbon renewable natural gas which can then be utilized in a number of different applications, allowing China to move exponentially toward an ecologically sustainable society.”